If you already have some experience of sailing under your belt and you’re ready to take things to the next level, the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course should be your next move. On the Day Skipper Course you will go from crewing to skippering so you can eventually be the one giving instructions rather than following them. And if you’re looking for a reputable, supportive, and real-world learning experience, this is exactly what First Class Sailing has been delivering for thousands of students since the year 2000.
Whether you’re aiming to charter a yacht on holiday, skipper your own yacht, or just feel more in control and confident on the water, this course gives you the skills and confidence to do it properly.
What the RYA Day Skipper Course Involves
Our RYA Day Skipper Course takes place over five days from our HQ in Southampton. You’ll be taught by qualified instructors in and around Southampton water and onto the Solent and beyond – learning by doing. The Solent is the ideal place to learn to sail – busy, tidal, and lots of variety that offer real world experiences and challenges.
In order to take the Day Skipper Practical Course, you need to have completed RYA Competent Crew or have equivalent experience on the water – and have completed the RYA Day Skipper Theory course, or have similar knowledge to what you would have learned on the theory course. This theory knowledge includes charts, tides, and navigation – something you’ll lean on constantly during the week.
What You’ll Learn on the Day Skipper Course
You can take the course as five consecutive days or split it over two weekends depending on what works best for you. Either way, the course structure’s the same: each day starts with a briefing, followed by lots of practical activity.
You’ll cover things like:
- Passage planning
- Boat handling under sail and engine
- Navigation and pilotage
- Berthing and anchoring
- Weather forecasts
- Safety checks and drills
- Crew leadership and decision making
Each night you’ll be in a different marina, anchorage, or harbour giving you lots of variety and a chance to practice different types of berthing and planning.
Living on Board
You’ll live aboard the yacht for the duration of the RYA Day Skipper Course. It becomes both your classroom and home for the week. All meals are included, and you’ll sail with a small group – typically made up of two to four students. That gives you loads of time at the helm and an extremely focused sailing experience.
You can either come on your own, or book with a friend or two. If you’ve got a group, you can even charter the whole boat and do the course together.
First Class Sailing courses offer a relaxed, friendly setup, and you’ll quickly get into the rhythm of life on board. You’ll cook, sail, and learn together, and by the end of the week you’ll feel like you’ve known your crewmates for years.
The First Class Sailing Instructors
Our instructors are all RYA-qualified, and more importantly, they’re brilliant at teaching no matter your level of experience. They explain, demonstrate, and then give you space to do it yourself. You’ll make mistakes. That’s normal. But that’s the whole point. The key is that you’re supported the whole time, and learning from practical and hands-on experience.
By the end of the Day Skipper Course, you’ll be doing things instinctively that seemed daunting on day one.
Here’s what some of our students have said (TripAdvisor Reviews):
“A fabulous five days on the Solent with an amazing instructor, Hilly. We learnt loads and had great fun along the way. The instructor / student ratio of 1:4 worked perfectly, giving everyone sufficient time to ask questions and as importantly, have a go. I would highly recommend First Class Sailing – their name says it all!”
“I completed my Day Skipper Sailing Practical through First Class Sailing, having taken my theory course with them previously. The whole process is very well organised and communication before the course for preparation is excellent. I had an excellent instructor called Alistair; he had an encyclopaedic knowledge and passion for sailing that conveyed itself in a sensitive and informative teaching style. This style embraced the methods, disciplines, safety and fun of all things sailing; until I felt comfortable and able to do them all with confidence and comfort. Having done my Day Skipper Practical Powerboat in the past, I had something to compare it to, and considering the extra elements involved in the Sailing version, found it impossible to fault.”
“I completed the Day Skipper Course, and it was an incredibly valuable experience, boosting my confidence and helping me to understand what I am actually doing when I am out on the water. I have lots of dinghy sailing experience growing up, and I have recently got into yacht sailing, but I have been relying on everyone else to tell me what to do. I have definitely never had any experience navigating, or even thought much about navigating, other than pointing where I wanted to go. This course has taught me so much, combining the wind and tide along with where you want to go, making sure you actually get there, and in time! Looking at tides and lights and buoyage, I am definitely much safer now. Knowing the markings on the map and identifying what is around me has given me so much confidence, and I can’t wait to get back out on the water in the spring! The teaching was excellent, especially our teacher, Bruce, he ensured everyone was always following, going at the right pace, and going back if we needed to. Thank you, Bruce! I highly recommend this course!”
What You Get After Completing the RYA Day Skipper Course
Upon completion you’ll get your RYA Day Skipper Certificate which is an internationally recognised qualification that proves you’re ready to take charge of a yacht and its crew.
With this, you can charter boats in the UK and overseas, including in tidal waters. It’s the minimum requirement for most Mediterranean flotilla and bareboat charters, and it’s the starting point for more advanced sailing qualifications.
It’s not just about a piece of paper, though. You’ll walk away with confidence achieved by having real-world experience on the water with First Class Sailing. You’ll know how to plan a passage, handle a boat in tight spaces, keep your crew safe, and make decisions when it counts.
Not Done the Theory Yet?
If you haven’t completed the Day Skipper Theory course, we do recommend doing that first. It covers the navigation, tides, and chartwork that you’ll be using throughout the practical course. We offer this online or in the classroom, so you can choose what suits.
Booking – Spaces Are Limited
Our yachts only take up to 4 students per course, and weekends in particular tend to fill up quickly – particularly during spring and summer months. So, if you’re ready to get started, it’s best to get booked in sooner rather than later.
The price includes five days of tuition, all meals, accommodation, and your RYA certificate.
Here’s how one of our students summed it up on Google:
“Spent a great 5 days with First Class Sailing. The course was challenging and made sure to put you outside your comfort zone, small group size allowed for a better learning experience and lots of sailing. We also visited a variety of ports and did many different routes in the Solent which kept things interesting. At the end of the course, I felt confident that I could be a good crew member on a sailing boat. Looking forward to continuing my sailing education journey at First Class Sailing in the future. A great company to choose if you looking to further your knowledge and certifications in Sailing, with very experienced instructors and excellent tuition.”
Why Book with First Class Sailing?
There are plenty of schools offering the Day Skipper course, but here’s why so many choose us as one of the leading sailing schools in the UK:
- Small student numbers mean more hands-on time
- Our boats are well looked after and comfortable to live on
- The instructors are friendly, patient, and good at what they do
- We offer support before, during, and after your course
And we get results – many of our students go on to do Coastal Skipper, Yachtmaster, and go on charter yachts abroad
Get Started
If you’re ready to move from crewing to skippering and want to do it properly, safely, and with our expert team, the RYA Day Skipper Course is the next step.
It’s practical, challenging, and hugely rewarding. And we’ll support you the whole way through it.
Book your place now and start the journey to becoming the skipper you want to be.
